Tips for Rookies from those who have been there

Ask the parents of the team members to talk to their bosses/companies about being sponsors
Setup a web site for your team where you proudly display your sponsors. Include information on becoming a sponsor, and consider grouping your sponsors into tiers where different contribution levels can result in more prominent advertising.
Make a brochure or video where you show the benefits of sponsorship and how much it helps your team. In a video you can demonstrate the small robot you built at kickoff. A brochure can provide links to Youtube videos of past competitions, so they can get an idea of the end result, and of course all your contact information.

Just when the students are in danger of wearing themselves out, hold a meeting that is just a fun day to break the tension (this is also a good idea after the competition ends). Take the team out for bowling, paint ball, or laser tag. Conduct a game where the kids make robot suits out of cardboard boxes that they wear while riding tricycles to simulate that year's game.

A regional competition has a small percentage of rookie teams. At the 2013 NC regional, there were 8 rookie teams out of 55 teams total. If you want to stand out from the other rookie teams (since one rookie team will be chosen to go to the nationals), act like a veteran team. Make a flag for the team that the announcer can wave before each match. Get a mascot costume that one member can wear and participate in the mascot parade. Make business cards and buttons that team members can hand out and trade. Put together gift boxes (e.g. first aid kids, bottled water, nabs, etc.) to hand out to other teams.
Develop a schedule that will utilize all team members during the competition. It is easy for those who are not on the drive team rotation to feel less needed. Rotate people as scouts that will gather information on other teams, such as the abilities of competing robots or basic demographics, in order to forge relationships for alliances (alliances are a way that rookie teams can be joined with veteran teams that can result in winning the event).
To save on meal costs, enlist parents to donate lunch ingredients such as bread, meat, cheese, condiments, chips, fruit, bottled waters, etc. so the students can make their own lunch rather than having to pay for less-than-healthy fast food.

Rookie Tips